Raceland man found guilty of attacking 78-year-old

Published: Thursday, July 18, 2013 at 9:15 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, July 18, 2013 at 9:15 p.m.

A 55-year-old Raceland man who beat up and robbed a 78-year-old man in November was found guilty of armed robbery Tuesday, Thibodaux District Attorney Cam Morvant said.

Donald Loston walked up to the man’s carport Nov. 24 at dusk as the man unloaded his groceries, Morvant said. Loston said he had car trouble and needed help.

When the man returned with a car jack and a glass of water, Loston grabbed the jack and used it to hit the man in the head, he said.

He then took the man’s wallet from his pocket as he bled profusely.

“What makes this crime of violence worse is that it was perpetrated upon a particularly vulnerable victim,” he added. “Crimes like this are why we dedicate resources to a special elderly services prosecutor. Now that we have a conviction, we will try to take whatever steps are necessary to keep this predator away from society for as long as we can.”

The prosecution presented DNA evidence and fingerprints to convict Loston, he added.

The jury’s decision was unanimous.

Loston was on parole for a previous armed robbery conviction when he committed the crime and had previously been convicted of distribution of cocaine, Morvant said.

His sentencing date is slated for July 24. He faces 10 to 99 years in prison without parole.

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